Donkey

Copied John B. Flannagan, Donkey, ca. 1930-1931, granite, 7 1⁄2 x 9 1⁄4 x 4 1⁄4 in. (19.0 x 23.5 x 10.7 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase, 1973.165
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Artwork Details

Title
Donkey
Artist
Date
ca. 1930-1931
Location
Dimensions
7 1⁄2 x 9 1⁄4 x 4 1⁄4 in. (19.0 x 23.5 x 10.7 cm.)
Credit Line
Museum purchase
Mediums
Mediums Description
granite
Classifications
Keywords
  • Animal — donkey
Object Number
1973.165
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1973.165

Artwork Description

John Flannagan often spoke of the sympathy he saw between the materials he worked with and the subjects that he carved. He tried to find in each stone the suggestion of a form hidden within it. In Donkey the stubbornness of the granite (one of the most difficult stones to carve) matches the personality of the animal. The donkey feels like such a part of the stone that he almost appears fossilized. The subtle outlines that define his body also make the sculpture seem worn and ancient.

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